Summer Fun with Insects

By Anonymous -
There are a great number of things one can do on a sunny day in summer. Some go swimming at the local pool, some make a trip to a park for a hiking trip, and some prefer to just stay inside. Whatever you are doing, keep an eye out for people running around with a net. Seeing a grown adult chasing bugs may elicit concerns for that individual’s sanity. However, I assure you they are not crazy. They are simply trying to build an insect collection. This is a fascinating hobby that can quickly become addicting. However, the question of what to do after successfully catching an insect will inevitably come up. To answer this, let us look at several options available to those pursuing this hobby.
Be sure to keep the side consistent throughout your collection!

Source: https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/401Book/default.php?
page=pinning_large_insects
The most commonly used method is called pinning. This is where one pierces the insect with a needle and positions it in the desired pose. However, this is not as simple as it may appear. First, you need to consider where you are pinning your insect. The ideal location varies with the type. Pinning in the thorax off-center to one side from the center line is ideal for most insects, though there are some that should be pinned in the abdomen. Beyond this, it is essential to use a pinning block to keep an ordered collection. This is a multi-tiered block that keeps insects and labels at the same level throughout one’s collection. You can make one of these at home by following the instructions found here: https://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/4h/unit2/hotm&upb.htm.


Pointing, or the card point method is used for displaying very small insects within a collection. Triangular points are cut out of cardstock using a specialized punch tool. If a punch is not available, scissors can be used to cut points out from a template such as this https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/401Book/pdf/CardPoints.pdf.  
The tip of the triangle is folded over depending on the size of the insect. A small amount of glue is placed on the fold over and attaches to the insect. Various types of glues can be used including white glue, shellac glue, hide glue or clear nail polish. White glue being ideal in personal collections in that it is water-based, non-toxic, easily accessible and affordable. Once the insect is glued on the point, a pin is placed through the middle of the widest part of the triangular base. Bring out your pinning block to get it at the correct height. Here are some tips for gluing insects:
1.    Insect should be pinned on the right side.
2.    Be careful not to apply too much glue, this can cover important features.
3.    Try not to glue wings down, rather keep glue on the body.
4.    Small beetles should be glued so that the ventricle midline is visible.

Pinning can help you preserve very small insects.

Source: https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/401Book/
default.php?page=pinning_small_insects
Classifying and identifying is an important step in building an insect collection. Begin identifying by inspecting for morphological differences. Step one would be to identify to order. Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera make up nearly 80% of insects. Further identification to the family and species can become tricky. A microscope may be needed to see tiny features. Some species may not have any visible differences and require DNA analysis to determine identification.  
Once an insect has been identified and pointed or pinned, two labels are made and attached under the insect’s body. The top label is for identification and contains the scientific name (genus, species) on top followed by common name and order on the lines below. The location label is the bottom label and contains the location on top line, followed by date and collector. Labels should be placed with a distance between them that allows the viewer to easily read. Your pinning block may be used for accurate label positioning.
There you have it! These methods should give you a good foundation to start amassing an impressive insect collection. The next time there is a sunny day, get out there with a net, catch some insects, ignore the weird looks, and start your collection. Soon enough, you will master these forms of preserving your insects.
Sources:

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